Die mechanism for forming tubular bodies



Nov. 22, 1932. D. A. SCHUTT 1,838,337

DIE MECHANfSM FOR FORMING TUBULAR BODIES Filed Sept. 15, 1931 2 Sheets-Sheet 1 46d ATTORNEY.

Nov. 22, 1932. m 1,888,837

DIE MECHANISM FOR FORMING TUBULAR BODIES Filed Sept. 15. 1951 2.Sheets-Sheet 2 44,4.) A TTORNE Y.

Patented Nov. 22, 1932 PATENT OFFICE DUNY A. SCHUTT, OF NEW KENSiNGTON, PENNSYLVANIA DIE MECHANISM FOR FORMING TUBULAR BODIES Application filed September 15, 1931. Serial No. 562,856.

My invention consists of an improvement 'in means for forming curvilinear tubular shapes, utilizing a pre-formed rectilineal tubular blank, usuallytapering towards one 5 end. The invention has in view to provide means for-quickly and easily forming the spouts of coffee pots, tea kettles, or the hke of aluminum, copper, pewter, or other suitable metal, with smooth finished inner and outer surfaces.

Ordinarily forming tools for hollow or tubular shells utilize an outer die member or members and an inner punch or mandrel operable on a straight axial line for relative 1 forming and withdrawal movement, and are inapplicable to the formation of longitudinally curved shapes.

In my invention I utilize a two-part die comprising a lower stationary and an upper movable member with an intervening punch or mandrel, movable between the die members in a direction opposite to the'movement of the upper die member. The construction in which Fig. 1 is a view of the axially straight tubular blank, in elevation;

Fig. 2 is a similar view of the finished article Fig. 3 is an under plan view of the blank;

Fig. 4 is a view of the machine in side elevation in open position;

Fig. 5 is a detail plan view of the movable tip forming mandrel;

Fig. 6 is an enlarged sectional view of the flexible terminal of the punch mandrel or horn;

Fig. 7 is a detail view showing the flexible link extension of the horn;

Fig. 8 is a view like Fig. 7 showing the machine in closed position;

Fig. 9 is a plan view of Fig. 8;

Fig. 10 is a partial longitudinal vertical 5 section on the line XX of Fig. 9, showing the blank in formed shape between the mandrel and the stationary and movable dies respectively;

Fig. 11 is a cross section on the line XI XI of Fig. 10;

is illustrated in the accompanying drawings,

. treatment in my machine. Blank a is divided for. a short distance backwardly of its larger end on the under side, as at 0, facilitating vvithdrawal of an axially straight forming mandrel or the like. Such spacing is eventually closed in the finished shape I) by bringing the edges together under the die operation, with final welding at the time of attachment of the spout. The machine consists of a base member 2 adapted to be mounted on a suitable foundation and is provided with a half round, half oval or half polygonal stationary die face 3. Such face extends longitudinally of the base, co-extensive with the length of the under side of the finished spout and of corresponding longitudinal contour, in an undulating or compound curve direction. The upper edges of the die face 3 terminate in an approxi-.,7 mately corresponding undulating medial plane 03 forming the division between the lower and upper dies.

The upper die 4 is provided with a lower half round, half oval or half polygonal die, 8 face 5, generally similar to face 3, longitudinally of its active face, and flanked by enclosing sides terminating at the common medial division faces d. Die 4.- is shouldered as at eta for lifting by plates 11 and is designed to move in a downwardly advancing direc tion towards the large extremity of die 3, in approaching relation to the oppositely moving mandrel or horn 6. The latter is mounted on or is made a rigid part of the main 9 operating lever 7 which in turn is pivoted at 8 between the side cheeks 9 of base 2.

Die 4 is pivoted at its upper rear portion, by pin 10 between cheek plates 11 and these are pivotally mounted as at 12 on a bearing of base 2. Plates 11 in turn are pivotally connected at 13 by links 14: to bearings of the lever 7 as at 15.

Mandrel 6 operates like the horn of an anvil insertible within the blank (1 and conforms to the interior contour of dies 3 and 4, resisting their pressure around the blank for compression and shaping to the desired form. Like the dies, it is of an undulating or compound curve form for similar formation of the axially straight blank 0, and is part rigid and part flexible at each side of a transverse plane w-m, where the curvature changes. The mandrel 6 gradually tapers and curves to one side up to such plane, beyond which the horn extension is flexible by means of a series of hinged links 16-connecting the mandrel with a terminal tip 17.

At the rear end of die 2 is a small terminal mandrel 18 having a rear supporting head 19 and carried by an angular arm 20 pivoted by bolt 21 on the side of the base. Arm 20 has an extension 22 normally retracted by a spring 23 and arrested by an abutment 24,

preferably adjustable, as by bolt 21a. The

terminal mandrel "18 is thus normally elevated slightlyiabove the lower die face allowin'for insertion of the'blank' terminalover it.

urrounding'the links'16 is asection of flexible material, as rubber tubing'25, and the continuous taperedjbo dy portion'of the mandrel is formed of an alternating series of leather washer sections 26 and rubber sections 27. These are dressed down to provide may bereadily inserted in the blankand will be deflected'first upwardly and then downwardly to conforming curvature between the dies, as in" dotted lines Fig. '6, resiliently resuming its straight form when withdrawn.

A roller 28 is rotatablymounted in a suitable depression between the sides of lever 7 and bears downwardly and inwardly over the approaching end of die 4;, -firmly compressing and shaping the blank at the end of each stroke. Lever 7 may be actuated by any suitable connection at its outer end with a power imparting element.

The construction and operation of my invention will be readily understood and appreciated from the foregoing description by all those skilled in the art.

The machine being in open position as in Fig. 4:, permits insertion of the blank a with its larger open end partly over the terminal of the mandrel, and with its smaller end fitting around terminal 18. Upon downward movement of lever 7 the mandrel 6 moves inwardly and downwardly through the blank, its flexible terminal first bending upwardly and then downwardly, urging the blank backwardly to proper position for action by the simultaneously lowering and advancing die 4.

Clamping action of the cooperating stationary and movable dies under sufficient pressure forms the blank into the desired final shape I), the pressure of the upper die slightly lowering the terminal 18 against the reacting spring 23.

There is therefore a continuous resistance by the mandrel 6 and such terminal, the die action on the blank, and the resistance of the mandrel effecting completed formation and with smooth finished surfaces both inside and out. Such action closes the gap 0 of the blank, bringing the ed es closely together, so that, upon removal 0 any burrs or projections, the continuous inner rim of the spout may be then welded to the body ofthe pot or kettle, the short longitudinal closed seam at 0 being welded at the same time.

The machine in its entirety is very strong and powerful, capable of applying quite sufficient pressure to efli'ect'the formation and finishing described, and results in a seamless continuously smooth ornamentally shaped spout, devoid of the usual welding joints where such an articleismade in'two pieces,

and greatly improving its appearance, efii ciency and at a correspondingly low cost.

The machine is comparatively simple in construction, composed of few parts, very durable and not liable to get out of order. It may be changedor modified in design, shape, dimensions etc, to adapt it to the formation of variously shaped curved or otherwise modified articles of a generally similar character, but all such changes are to be understood as within the scope of the following claims.

What I claim is:

1. Forming mechanism for hollow metal shapes consisting of a stationary die having an undulating longitudinal contour and a' downwardly and forwardly movable die of similar contour, and an intermediate flexible mandrel conformable under pressure of said dies to the contour thereof.

2. Forming mechanism for hollow metal shapes consisting of a stationary die having an undulating longitudinal contour and a downwardly and forwardly movable die of similar contour, and an intermediate mandrel having a flexible portion adapting it to conformable adjustment within a surrounding blank to the contour of said dies between them.

3. Forming mechanism for hollow metal shapes consisting of a stationary base having a recessed compound curve die face, a downwardly and forwardly movable co-acting compound curve die, anda co-operating mandrel insertible between said dies provided with a flexible terminal portion, conformable under pressure of said dies to the compound curvature thereof.

at. Forming mechanism for hollow metal shapes consisting of a stationary base having a recessed die face of undulating longitudinal contour, a downwardly and forwardly movable similar co-acting die, and a downwardly and backwardly movable mandrel insertible between said dies provided with a flexible terminal portion adapting it to conformable adjustment within a blank between the dies.

5. Forming mechanism for hollow metal shapes consisting of a stationary and a movable die, an intermediate flexible mandrel, and a supplemental retracted normally raised blank terminal mandrel depressible by the movable die.

6. Forming mechanism for hollow metal shapes consisting of a stationary and a movable die, an intermediate flexible mandrel, and a supplemental resiliently mounted blank terminal mandrel.

7. Forming mechanism for tubular shapes comprising a base provided with a half forming die, a lever having a mandrel traversible through said die, and a co-acting half forming die connected with the lever and operable against a blank located between the pair of dies and the mandrel.

8. Forming mechanism for tubular shapes comprising a base provided with a half forming die, a lever having a. mandrel traversible through said die, and a co-acting half forming die connected with the lever and subject to pressure thereof whereby to compress a blank located between the pair of dies and the mandrel.

9. Forming mechanism for tubular shapes comprising a base provided with a half forming die, a lever having a mandrel traversible through said die, a co-acting half forming die connected with the lever and operable against a blank located between the pair of dies and the mandrel, and a movably mounted terminal mandrel.

10. Forming mechanism for tubular shapes of undulating longitudinal contour comprising a base provided with a half forming die,

; a lever having a part flexible mandrel traversible through said die, and a co-acting half forming die connected with the lever and 0p erable against a blank located between the pair of dies and the mandrel.

11. Forming mechanism for tubular shapes comprising a base provided with a half forming die, a lever having a mandrel traversible through said die, a co-acting half forming die, means pivotally supporting said die on the base, and means pivotally connecting said supporting means to the lever for co-operation with the mandrel.

12. In combination, a pair of co-acting half forming dies of undulating longitudinal contour, a correspondingly shaped mandrel having a flexible terminal portion, a resiliently mounted supplemental blank terminal mandrel, and means for actuating said mandrels and one of said dies.

13. In combination, a pair of co-acting half forming dies of undulating longitudinal contour, a correspondingly shaped mandrel having a flexible terminal portion, a resiliently mounted supplemental blank terminal mandrel, a lever for the flexible mandrel, pivotally mounted cheeks for moving and supporting one of said dies, links connecting said checks to the lever, and means on the lever engaging the movable die.

14. In combination, a pair of co-acting half forming dies of undulating longitudinal contour, a correspondingly shaped mandrel having a flexible terminal portion, a resiliently mounted supplemental blank terminal mandrel, a lever for the flexible mandrel, pivotally mounted checks for moving and supporting one of said dies, links connecting said cheeks to the lever, and a roller on the lever engaging the movable die to force it against the blank when the mandrel is inserted.

15. In blank forming die mechanism as described, in combination with a lower stationary die and an upper co-acting die, and an intervening mandrel conformable to the opposing faces of said dies, a movable terminal mandrel having resilient means normally holding it above the face of the lower die for insertion of a blank and adapting it to be depressed by action of the upper co-acting die.

16. A curvilinear mandrel as described having a flexible portion consisting of a con secutive series of pivotally connected link members and a surrounding covering of flexible material.

17. A curvilinear mandrel as described having a flexible portion consisting of a consecutive series of pivotally connect-ed link members and a surrounding covering composled of a series of washers of flexible materia 18. A curvilinear mandrel as described having a flexible portion consisting of a series of link members and a surrounding covering composed of a series of alternating washers of leather and rubber having surfaces forming continuations of the mandrel body.

19. A curvilinear mandrel as described having a flexible portion consisting of a series of link members and a surrounding covering of rubber tubing and a series of alternating washers of leather and rubber.

20. A curvilinear mandrel as described having a flexible portion consisting of a consecutive series of pivotally connected linkmembers and a surrounding covering of flexible material and a metallic tip.

In testimony whereof I hereunto ailix my signature.

DUNY A. SCHUTT. 

